Notebook; Polish Hockey Star Is Banned

By FRANK LITSKY, Special to the New York Times

Published: February 22, 1988

CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 21—
The International Olympic Committee announced today that Jaroslaw Morawiecki, Poland's best hockey player, has been banned from these Olympics after testing positive for steroids. It was the first penalty for drug use at the XV Olympic Winter Games.

The Polish hockey team was allowed to continue to play, though it was stripped of the 2 points it earned Thursday with its 6-2 defeat of France.

According to the I.O.C. medical commission, a drug test taken after Thursday's game showed that Morawiecki's urine sample contained more testosterone than I.O.C. rules allowed. The announcement was made today. Leszek Lejczyk, the Polish coach, was told on Saturday and held the player out of Saturday night's 4-1 loss to Switzerland.

The I.O.C. Medical Commission recommended that the 24-year-old Morawiecki be suspended from these Olympics, and the I.O.C. Executive Committee agreed unanimously. The International Ice Hockey Federation then suspended him from international competition for 18 months.

Poland will play Finland on Monday morning in its final opening-round game. Until the surprising Poles had to forfeit their earlier points, they had a chance to finish among the top three in their opening-round pool and advance to the medal round. Now they will finish fifth or sixth among the six teams in Pool A. The points will not be given to France.

After the game with France, four players from each team were selected at random for drug tests, a normal procedure here. Lejczyk said an official pointed to Morawiecki and told him to take the test.

The urine samples were tested for many banned drugs. Lejczyk said all his players had passed drug tests before leaving Poland for here.

In a statement, the Polish Olympic delegation said it received the positive test result ''with surprise, regret and frustration.'' It said that ''unknowing consumption'' of the banned substance could have taken place Wednesday in food or drink in the locker room of the Stampede Corral, a practice facility.

Testosterone is the natural male sex hormone. Artificially produced testosterone, in conjunction with weight training and diet, tends to build muscle. It can be taken orally or by injection. The I.O.C. and the many international sports federations ban anabolic steroids because their use can lead to heart, liver and circulation problems, cancer or impotence.

Since 1981, Morawiecki, playing in Poland's top league, has scored 110 goals in 180 games. Since 1984, playing for Poland's national team, he has scored 34 goals in 49 games. Skier in a Coma

Bradford MacDonald, a 17-year-old high school student, remained in critical condition Sunday after he skied into trees at the base of an Olympic run.

On Saturday, MacDonald was skiing on a section of the Nakiska area used by recreational skiers. An edge of one of his skis caught in the snow, and he crashed. He suffered head injuries, and Sunday he was in a coma and breathing with the aid of a respirator at Foothills Hospital. 8 Chinese Leave

Eight members of the Chinese team have returned home, including at least two who left before their scheduled events were held.

Terry Bullick, a spokeswoman for the Calgary organizing committee, said four Chinese athletes left Canada on Thursday. Two women, who were on the speed-skating team, apparently were injured, she said, and were not scheduled to compete until next week.

Bullick also said that four Chinese figure skaters left Sunday after completing their competition.